Pat Haden, who became USC’s athletic director shortly after the NCAA sanctions were levied in June 2010, has made multiple trips to NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis seeking restitution. The NCAA repeatedly rebuffed him. “These recent documents confirm what we’ve believed all along, that we were treated unfairly in this investigation and its penalties,” Haden said in a statement Tuesday.

USC expressed disappointment and dismay at the NCAA’s handling of the Reggie Bush case after reviewing documents that indicate bias against the school on the part of college sports’ governing body.

Court documents made public Tuesday suggested that the NCAA violated procedures and had a vendetta against USC while adjudicating the Bush case in the late 2000s. The school received harsh sanctions, and Bush’s former position coach, Todd McNair, sued the NCAA for defamation.

“After an initial review of this first set of documents unsealed by the court in the McNair v. NCAA lawsuit, it is evident that the content confirms bias against McNair and USC by and on behalf of the NCAA and its Committee on Infractions. We are extremely disappointed and dismayed at the way the NCAA investigated, judged and penalized our university throughout this process. USC hopes that the transparency in this case will ultimately lead to review and changes so that all member institutions receive the fair and impartial treatment they deserve.

“It seems likely that there are additional documents that will come to light. Once USC has had the opportunity to review all of the documents unsealed by the court, we will determine what further action is appropriate.”

Whether “further action” means a lawsuit – something USC fans have been pining for – remains to be seen.

Pat Haden, who became USC’s athletic director shortly after the sanctions were levied in June 2010, has made multiple trips to NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis seeking restitution. The NCAA repeatedly rebuffed him.

“These recent documents confirm what we’ve believed all along, that we were treated unfairly in this investigation and its penalties,” Haden said in a statement Tuesday. “I think these documents are cause for concern about the NCAA’s own institutional controls. It should be concerning to all schools that the NCAA didn’t appear to follow its own rules.”

The documents made public Tuesday comprise nearly 500 pages of lawsuits, confidential emails and memos, interview transcripts, phone records and media clips. All are related to a 2011 defamation suit brought by McNair against the NCAA, which unsuccessfully tried to keep the records sealed.

Per order by the California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal, the NCAA chose what documents to publicly refile. About 200 pages that had been sealed were left out. Among the documents not filed were emails among committee members that a LosAngeles Superior Court judge wrote in 2012 “tend to show ill will or hatred.”